State of the USA Watch Industry

I believe the Ameriquartz movements from FTS is the only movement that can claim to be made in the US, although there are a number of US microbrands that import parts and assemble movements in the US; Dave Berghold, Detroit Watches, and Vaer all offer watches with movements assembled in the US using Swiss parts. If you go to the FTS website, there is a section with a number of microbrands using FTS movements.

Here you go.

The NASA series from Xeric uses the Americhron movement in some models.

Here's a link to RGM an American watchmaker. They build 100 percent all American including their own movement. Teddy Baldassarre paid them a visit and here it is enjoy.

https://youtu.be/YR5duZwe1VA

Wiess, another American made movement.

https://weisswatchcompany.com/pages/usamade-movements

Others to mention Kobold and Vaer (ameriquartz in some models)

Cheers!

I have an ISL100 Ameriquartz, it's a fantastic watch

I highly recommend this watch or the blue version ISL101 I think.

Bulova is an American company ? Also Hamilton ? I saw a Cincinnati watch co too I think.

The RGM Caliber 20 is, I believe, fully American made. A bit pricey though. RGM also makes some watches using refurbished vintage American-made Hamilton movements for significantly less... but still a lot!

The Maryland Watch Works MD7081 (ETA 2824 clone and used by some Tsao Baltimore , Rockville and Hager watches) and the Weiss Watch Company Caliber 1005 (LPJ 7001 base) are assembled in the US using foreign parts. I believe the Americhron is also assembled from foreign made parts too.

Bear in mind, standards for the "made in USA" label are much more stringent than "Swiss made." The Federal Trade Commission mandates that "all or virtually all" of the product is made in the US. The equivalent in Switzerland says that 60% of the "value" must be Swiss, along with the movement and final assembly and inspection. German standards are even more lax. I don't know if any American mass produced watches meet even the Swiss standard, especially since there are virtually no American made movements.

RGM and Weiss Watches might be "made in USA," though not if they use foreign parts; I don't see that either use the label. Bulova may be headquartered in the US, but they're Japanese owned and their watches are made elsewhere. Hamilton hasn't been American in decades. They moved themselves to Switzerland in the 60s.

I 2nd RGM.. Richard makes spectacular pieces, many of the movements developed from older movements and are truly unique. I used to live in Lancaster and drove past their unassuming building quite often (before I was a watchnerd) not knowing the horological marvel happening inside!

Hamilton also headquartered in US way back before being acquired by swatch..

In the Microbrand space there are tons that are US based but mostly they use movements/parts from outside. I think you just dont see US-made movement watchmaking..

Bear in mind, standards for the "made in USA" label are much more stringent than "Swiss made."

Correct, "made in the USA" is very hard to achieve in the day and age of globalization. "Swiss Made" doesn't mean all that much, and "Made in Germany" means even less indeed. Once companies are starting to game these labels, you might check twice before you buy something "Swiss Made" regardless of the watch brand, because once the movement has been taken into account, one way to get the label is to use low-cost components for the rest of the watch.

Look up Weiss Watch company...

Unfortunately all of the old American watch companies either folded, jumped ship, or where purchased by foreign entities. The only one that I know of that makes everything except for the movement in the US is Sel.

RGM is the closest to all.made.in the US but it runs into the problem of jewels and springs that are not made in the states.

Weiss gets the dial, hands, bridges, screws, and straps made in the states and much of it under their own roof but also has to source some items from Switzerland.

I would recommend either one but especially Weiss, I personally own two of them

It is my understanding RGM makes three calibers. With some having options like a motor barrel, wolfs tooth winding wheels and swan neck regulators. The Caliber 20 I believe is their second movement. The also make the Caliber 801 (with a skeleton version also available) and the Pennsylvania Tourbillon.

Another Maryland based watch company is Towson Watch Company, https://www.towsonwatchcompany.com/, I understand they source parts from Switzerland and Germany then finishes, assemble and regulate in the United States. The also do design and prototyping in the US.

There are a number of companies that design in the US from what I understand. Such as The Bourbon Watch Company, https://bourbonwatchcompany.com/, they design and are based in Louisiana.

E. Stohlman Watch Co., https://estohlman.com/, say they use a Maryland based movement called MWW7081a. I saw them as a watch show and they looked really nice. The cases are silver.

And also check out this article from Teddy Baldassarre on US watch brands. https://teddybaldassarre.com/blogs/watches/american-watch-brands

I believe Seiko is the only company in the business that you know if it says Japan 🇯🇵 on the dial it is otherwise it’s Malaysian or Thai ! It won’t say Japan though on the dial . ( please correct me if I am wrong ) They’re may be some exceptions!

Bulova still is. Hamilton was, but hit the skids and was bought by the Swatch Group. Swiss now, but great American heritage.

I just posted on a similar vein about Maryland watches. These companies generally have American made cases and use movements that are foreign sourced with final assembly in the US https://www.watchcrunch.com/Robcollects/posts/maryland-micro-brands-do-you-have-your-own-local-favorites-29128